Pune: At the end of the third round of the Poona Club Open 2025, an INR 1 crore event, PGTI Order of Merit leader and pre-tournament favorite Yuvraj Sandhu (65-67-65) shot a magnificent six-under 65, the best of the day, in the difficult conditions following the overnight rain, to take a two-shot lead with a total of 16-under 197.
Shaurya Bhattacharya (69-63-67), a winner at the PGTI this year, stayed in contention with a round of 67 that put him in second place at 14-under 199, two shots behind the leader.
Former PGTI No. 1 Manu Gandas (67-69-66) shot a 66 and finished the penultimate round in third place at 11-under 202.
Shivendra Singh Sisodia and Jairaj Singh Sandhu made up the top five as they both finished fourth at eight-under 205.
The Poona Club Open 2025 is supported by the Host Venue Poona Club Golf CourseTitle sponsors Vencbi And NECCas well as sponsors Ventive, SKS Fasteners, Elica, Marvel Realtors, Shubbaan Investments, DFMC, Automech And Kinetic. Novotel Pune Nagar Road is the associated partner.
PGTI’s ongoing efforts to grow professional golf in India are supported by its tour partners throughout the year Rolex, Amul, IndusInd Bank, Victorious Choice, Campa, Amrutanjan Electro Plus, Golf Plus Monthly And Golf design India.
Due to overnight rain, there was a two-hour delay in the start of the game. The game started at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday.
Veer Ahlawat, the reigning PGTI Order of Merit champion, finished sixth at seven-under 206.
Rohan Dhole Patil from Pune was the best-placed among the local professionals with a tied 20th placeTh at two under 211.
Yuvraj Sandhu, a four-time winner this year, started his day with a bogey on the third hole but came back with seven birdies over the next 12 holes. The 28-year-old Sandhu ultimately ended the day with a bogey and a birdie on the final three holes. Yuvraj made two long birdie conversions, hitting the green on the par-4 ninth hole and making birdies on all three par-5 holes.
Yuvraj said: “The overnight rain has made the conditions difficult out there. But having played a lot of golf in Asia recently, I am used to such wet conditions, so it worked to my advantage. Despite the rain, the greens are playing well. So kudos to the golf course staff for all the work they have done.”
“The late start today helped me get a little more sleep, and that helped me too. It was a stable day for me, after a small slip-up at the start I got back into the swing of things from the fifth hole onwards. I kept that momentum until the end.”
“Playing with Shaurya is fun because I have known him for a long time and have seen him as an amateur and a newbie. We were roommates and traveled to events together. So I am looking forward to playing the final round with him joining me in the leadership group.”
22-year-old Shaurya Bhattacharya, currently fourth in the PGTI rankings, also started the day with an early bogey on the first but then recovered with five birdies.
